Attorney General Janet Reno must to decide whether an independent counsel is needed to look at Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt's role in his department's rejection of an Indian casino.

President Clinton is scheduled to announce the winner of the Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership.

The original lyric manuscript of "Candle in the Wind '97," the best-selling single in history, is scheduled to be auctioned off in Los Angeles with proceeds of the song memorializing Princess Diana going to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

On the horizon

On Thursday, February 12, the European Union Rio Group meets in Panama.

On Friday, February 13, the U.S.-Latin America Resort and Tourism Development Conference ends.

On Saturday, February 14, Cupid sharpens his bow. Will you find your true love on this Valentine's Day?

On Sunday, February 15, Somali factions are tentatively scheduled to meet at a national reconciliation conference.

On Monday, February 16, is the scheduled deadline for decision in Microsoft Corp. case involving whether temporary workers should receive benefits.

On this day

In 1573, English explorer Francis Drake first saw the Pacific Ocean.

In 1755, Severndroog and other key towns on the coast of India were taken by the British.

In 1812, Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry signed a law changing the state's electoral boundaries to ensure a Republican majority. The move gave rise to the term "gerrymandering."

In 1858, Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, originally Marie-Bernarde Soubirous, first saw a vision of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes, France, leading to the foundation of the shrine of Lourdes.

In 1858, Benito Juarez was declared Constitutional President of Mexico at Vera Cruz.

In 1873, Amadeo, king of Spain, abdicated, leading to the proclamation of the first Spanish republic.

In 1888, Lobengula, King of the Matabeleland in southern Africa, entered into an agreement with the British government on mineral rights.

In 1889, the Japanese constitution was granted, with a two-chamber parliament, but the Emperor retained extensive powers.

In 1919, Friedrich Ebert was elected first president of the German republic. He helped bring about the Weimar constitution that tried to unite Germany after World War One.

In 1929, the Lateran Treaty was signed establishing an independent Vatican State in Rome.

In 1945, the Yalta Conference between Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt ended with agreement on the founding of the U.N., as well as plans for the defeat of Germany.

In 1970, Japan became the fourth country to put a satellite into orbit.

In 1971, 40 nations signed a treaty banning atomic weapons from the sea bed.

In 1975, Margaret Thatcher became the first woman leader of a British political party when she was elected leader of the Conservatives.

In 1975, in the Malagasy Republic, President Richard Ratsimandrava was assassinated after only six days in office.

In 1976, Britain and the Organization of African Unity recognized the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola.

In 1979, Iranian Prime Minister Dr. Shahpur Bakhtiar resigned after two days of fighting in the streets of Tehran.

In 1986, In an East-West exchange of prisoners in Berlin, Anatoly Shcharansky was released from the Soviet side.

In 1990, Nelson Mandela, black nationalist leader in South Africa, was released from prison after serving 27 years.

In 1993, former prime minister Bettino Craxi resigned as leader of Italy's Socialists over a corruption scandal that had rocked the government.

In 1994, the U.N. commander in Sarajevo accused renegade troops of trying to sabotage a ceasefire in the city but warring Muslims and Serbs began to turn in some of their heavy weapons.

In 1994, five astronauts and a cosmonaut returned to Earth aboard Discovery after the first joint U.S.-Russian space shuttle mission.

In 1996, a crowd of up to one million turned out for Pope John Paul II's last mass of his Latin American tour.

Newslink

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